they change the political ground under us. they are a tectonic shift and i believe the massacre of these innocent children and their loving teachers in newtown is exactly such an event. yesterday some of my senate colleagues had the courage to join this call for action and say publicly that we cannot go on as before, and i want thank particularly senators manchin and warner. their heroic stance is indeed a challenge to every other member of the senate to join in this common effort to find common ground and at long last do something to stop the killing. i also want to thank particularly senator reid, our majority leader, for his leadership in calling for a meaningful and thoughtful debate on gun violence. have to do something. we have to do something. we have to do something. that is what people in newtown have beseeched me over and over. i believe the american people agree. this is our moment, and we are the people to do it, and we can. i ask each of my colleagues to listen to those voices and to >> the house is in this mornin